Current Horticulture

A field experiment was conducted to study the spatial and temporal variability of canopy properties and tuberous root yield in a cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) field under two fertilization regimes. Spatial and temporal variability of canopy properties and root yield may be affected by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Spatio-temporal variations were studied using classical and geostatistical techniques. The data related to different plant growth factors clearly showed that application of plant nutrients at the recommended rates resulted in increased plant growth. Leaf area index had higher variability among different canopy properties. Spherical model fitted best for most of the parameters. The nugget to sill ratios of root yield were lesser than 25% (24.84), exhibiting strong spatial dependency, while that of unfertilized field was greater than 75% (81.82), indicating weak dependency. Moderate spatial dependency was noted for most of the canopy properties studied at different growth stages, with a nugget accounting for 7.53–100 of the total variability. The spatial correlation distances of all the canopy properties and root yield varied from 1.41 to 40.73 m. Kriged interpolation maps of canopy properties and root yield developed indicated entirely different distributions exhibiting completely patchy appearance in leaf area index, stem dry matter (%) and root yield which may be due to various intrinsic factors.